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Thursday, March 25, 2010

SomaCentric Dialoguing

by Julie McKay

With quality health care on the forefront of the public's mind, one of the most effective ways therapists can let their patients know that they care is through good rapport. The other night I met a medical doctor. We talked a little about what I do. He asked “Do you know what the most important thing a stethoscope was used for, besides listening to someone's lungs or heart?” I told him I didn't know. He said to touch someone and reassure them that they were being "heard." This is one way doctors can help build rapport with their patients.


But what about those who don't use stethoscopes in our practice? Such as massage therapists, bodyworkers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and psychotherapists? How you communicate with your client is of utmost importance. When a client is lucky they will happen across a therapist with whom they will “hit it off.” But this does not happen all the time.


One day two clients told me that they really appreciated how well I listened to them and how comfortable it made them feel. This struck me as very interesting as each had very different personalities. Did I do anything different for one or the other? What had I done to have them make the same comment?


What I did was I listened to what communication style and processing languages they each spoke and “spoke” their language to build a rapport. This also helped me to assist them to get better in touch with what was occurring in their bodies.


These are skills that we can develop over time, if we happen to be paying attention to the appropriate thing at the right time. However, without training it can take years and years to hone these skills of building rapport with a variety of clients and helping them listen to what is going on in their body.


There is an easier way for you to learn how to identify what processing language and communication styles your clients speak. You can easily learn how to ask effective questions that are non-leading, non-judgmental that help your clients identify their needs. There are simple yet profound techniques that you can learn to use with your client to help them pay closer attention and identify what their body wants them to be aware of.


Two years ago, I had a couple of therapists ask me to do a study group about how they could learn how to more effectively dialogue with their clients. I wrote page after page of notes about what I do and what I pay attention to when I am dialoguing with clients. I realized that there was no one place to reference all of the simple concepts and techniques that I use. So I put it all together in a ground-breaking workshop called SomaCentric Dialoguing.


SomaCentric Dialoguing (SCD) is a system that focuses on communication skills and concepts to improve rapport with clients, to effectively focus the client's body-centered awareness and dialogue with the client and their body. SCD teaches the how to communicate with clients and help them get in touch with what is going on with their body. SCD gives therapists specific concepts of how to ask appropriate questions, what not to ask and thus provides a structure to dialoguing.


Whether you are a student or an experienced therapist, you will learn how to identify what languages your client speaks, her processing and communication styles. You learn how to speak her languages to build instant rapport and get information easily, at all points of interaction; from an initial phone call and scheduling of an appointment, during the client intake process and while she is on the table. You learn how to help her get beyond what the head or mind wants to say and assist her to be more body-centered. These simple and yet profound dialoguing techniques are used to help your client in her healing journey, helping her to effectively let go of holding patterns and pain in her body. This results in core physical, mental, and emotional healing, helping her to heal more deeply.


The next SomaCentric Dialoguing class will be held April 16 - 18, 2010 at CCBC Catonsville. For more information see www.ClearInstitute.net or call 443-604-1981. Suggested reading is The Insightful Body: Healing with SomaCentric Dialoguing by Julie McKay. Available online at www.ClearInstitute.net or your favorite bookseller.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

CCBC Massage Therapy Program Open House This Thursday!

The Massage Therapy Program at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex Campus is having an Open House on Thursday, March 25th, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

All are invited for light refreshments, free seated massages, tours and information!

The Open House is located at

7201 Rossville Blvd
J Building
Room 322-324
Baltimore, MD 21237

To RSVP or for more information call 443-840-1431 or e-mail to chunter@ccbcmd.edu

Just come and share our spring celebration! We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners: Can they FIND You or will they FINE You?

Attention Maryland Massage Therapists and Registered Massage Practitioners! Are you aware of the requirement to notify the Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners of any change of address within 60 days of moving? If you do not notify them in a timely manner and they send mail to your address which is returned to the board, you will be fined $100 which must be paid before you can renew your license. Don’t get caught! Notify the board promptly by mail and be sure to get a return receipt so you have proof they received it. The change of address form for this is located under the Forms and Information tab at http://mdmassage.org/.

Send your change of address to:

Ms. Emily Jones
Massage Therapy Program
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299

If you have recently moved or have plans to move, please keep this requirement in mind – and save yourself $100 and a lot of grief!

You can also e-mail Ms. Jones at jonesel@dhmh.state.md.us, but make sure you get a return e-mail confirming that she has received your change of address. Be sure to include your license or registration number and effective date of move (within 60 days!). Save the reply as confirmation. If you do not receive a reply, send your notification by mail with a return request.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Massage Therapy Ethics and Infection Control Courses Being Offered at CCBC!

On May 1st 2010, CCBC is offering two courses that are required for renewal of your Massage Therapy License or Registration this coming October. They are 3 credits each and meet your 6 credit Ethics and HIV/Infection Control Requirement. Ethics will be taught in the morning and Infection Control in the afternoon. 9-12:30 and 2 - 5:30. Room assignment to be announced.

Ethics and the Law for Massage Therapists - CRN# 89166
and
HIV/AIDS/Infection Control for Massage Therapists - CRN# 89165

will be offered on that day on the

CCBC - Essex Campus.
7201 Rossville Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21237


They will be taught by Jean Wible, RN, BSN, NCTMB, LMT, HTCP

To Register: Call 443-840-4700.
You will need the above CRN# for each course.

For more information and for other Continuing Education offerings for Massage Therapist go to www.ccbcmassagetherapy.com
or
call 443-840-1069